Quick-connect valve for use in filling gas cylinders

ABSTRACT

The valve comprises a tubular stem adapted to engage the central portion of a threaded socket inlet in a gas cylinder. A longitudinally sectioned sleeve surrounds the stem and has a threaded end that fits the threaded socket when expanded. A sleeve support slidably surrounds the stem and has a ferrule on which the sections of the sleeve are pivoted, and a resilient annular member surrounds the sectioned sleeve adjacent to the threaded end thereof, for pivoting the sections of the sleeve on the ferrule to contract the threaded end of the sleeve around the stem. A collar is axially slidable on the sleeve support and has a flared end for engaging the sections of the sleeve to pivot them in opposition to the resilient annular member in order to expand the threaded end of the sleeve into engagement with the threads of the socket.

1451 Sept. 11,1973

1 1 QUICK-CONNECT VALVE FOR USE IN FILLING GAS CYLINDERS Inventor: EijiMasuda, Takarazuka, Hyogo- Prefecture, Japan [73] Assignee: Daido KogyoKaisha, Ltd., Nishi-ku,

Osaka, J apan Filed: Nov. 1, 1971 Appl. No.: 194,160

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 3, 1971 Japan 46/4346 [52]US. Cl l4l/3l2,'14l/351, 251/149.l, 285/35, 285/315 Int. Cl F161 37/28Field 01' Search ..141/311,3l2,319, 141/363, 366, 346, 382-385, 391,392, 1, 2, 18, 347-362, 386-389; 285/315,,316, 318, 319, 35; 81/72;269/47, 238; 184/ 105 C; 251/1491 Primary ExaminerJohn PetrakesAssistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney-Marshall & Yeasting 5 7ABSTRACT The valve comprises a tubular stern adapted to engage thecentral portion of a threaded socket inlet in a gas cylinder. Alongitudinally sectioned sleeve surrounds the stem and has a threadedend that fits the threaded socket when expanded. A sleeve supportslidably surrounds the stem and has a ferrule on which the sections ofthe sleeve are pivoted, and a resilient annular mem ber surrounds thesectioned sleeve adjacent to the threaded end thereof, for pivoting thesections of the sleeve on the ferrule to contract the threaded end ofthe sleeve around the stem. A collar is axially slidable on the sleevesupport and has a flared end for engaging the sections of the sleeve topivot them in opposition to the resilient annular member in order toexpand the threaded end of the sleeve into engagement with the threadsof the socket.

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FIG.|

INVENTOR.

EIJI MASUDA QUICK-IIONNECT VALVE FOR USE IN FILLING GAS CYLINDERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a quick-connectvalve for use in filling gas cylinders.

An ordinary cylinder used to hold a gas under pressure is provided witha threaded socket inlet which leads to a check valve that is held inclosed position by the pressure of the gas inside the cylinder.

Heretofore, whenever a gas cylinder was to be charged with gas underpressure, it was necessary to screw a fitting tightly into the threadedsocket inlet of the gas cylinder in order to connect the gas cylinderinlet to a supply of gas under pressure. The operation of screwing afitting into the threaded socket inlet of a gas cylinder has beentime-consuming and therefore objectionable under any conditions in whichit has been necessary to fill a large number of gas cylinders with gasunder pressure in a manufacturing plant or in a refilling station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a quick-connect valvewhich makes a perfect gas-tight seal with the threaded socket inlet of agas cylinder without the necessity of screwing a fitting into thethreaded socket. The present valve forms a seal when the valve is simplythrust axially into the threaded socket of a gas cylinder. Moreover,after the operation of filling the cylinder with gas under pressure hasbeen completed, it is not necessary to unscrew a fitting in order toremove the present valve. Whenever the present valve is to be removedfrom a gas cylinder, a simple axial pull breaks the seal and serves toremove the valve from the threaded socket inlet of the gas cylinder.

The present valve comprises a tubular stern adapted to engage thecentral portion of a threaded socket inlet in a gas cylinder. Alongitudinally sectioned sleeve surrounds the stem and has a threadedend that fits the threaded socket when expanded. A sleeve supportslidably surrounds the stem and has a ferrule on which the sections ofthe sleeve are pivoted, and a resilient annular member surrounds thesectioned sleeve adjacent to the threaded end thereof, for pivoting thesections of the sleeve on the ferrule to contract the threaded end ofthe sleeve around the stem. A collar is axially slidable on the sleevesupport and has a flared end for engaging the sections of the sleeve topivot them in opposition to the resilient annular member in order toexpand the threaded end of the sleeve into engagement with the threadsof the socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of avalve embodying the present invention, showing the valve as it is aboutto enter the threaded socket inlet of the gas cylinder.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The connection portion of thepresent quick-connect valve is a sectioned sleeve consisting of foursections 1 which are adapted to makea connection with a threaded socketinlet 2 of a gas cylinder. The four sections 1 are mounted on a sleevesupport 3 having a ferrule 4 on which the four sections 1 are pivoted.

The end of the sectioned sleeve consisting of the four sections I isprovided with threads 5 which make threaded engagement with the threadedsocket 2 when the end of the sectioned sleeve is expanded intoengagement with the threaded socket. At the end of the sectioned sleeve,remote from the threads 5, there is provided a ball bearing consistingof balls 6 which are seated in aligned grooves that are formed in thefour sections 1.

A resilient annular member 7, consisting of a rubber ring or a coilspring, surrounds the sectioned sleeve beyond the ferrule 4, forpivoting the sections .1 on the ferrule 4 to contract the end of thesleeve. Fig. 1 shows the end of the sectioned sleeve in its contractedposition.

Coaxially and slidably mounted in the sleeve support 3 is a tubular stem8 on the end of which is an O-ring 9 by means of which the tubular stemmakes a sealing engagement with the central portion of the threadedsocket 2. Such engagement of the tubular stem 8 with the central portionof the threaded socket 2 connects the interior of the tubular stem 8with an inlet passage of the gas cylinder which leads to a check valve(not shown).

The rear end of the tubular stem 8 is in the form of a piston which isslidable in the cylindrical interior of the sleeve support 3 and isprovided with an O-ring 11 which-forms a seal between the piston portionof the valve stem 8 and the interior of the sleeve support 3.

A light spring 12 which tends to hold the tubular stem 8 in itsoutermost position is compressed between the tubular stem 8 and anotherstem 13 which is threaded into the sleeve support 3. A washer 14 issecured to the end of the stem 13 by means of a screw. The stem 13 isprovided with an axial passage 15 which is in communication with thetubular stem 8 and which leads to a transverse passage 16.

Gas under pressure is supplied through the transverse passage 16 and theaxial passage 15 of the stem 13 as well as the axial passage 17 of thetubular stem 8 by means of a slide valve mechanism which is threaded toa collar 18 slidably mounted on the sleeve support 3. This valvemechanism is slidably mounted on the stem 13, and is provided withO-rings 19 which form a seal when an inlet 20 is in registry with thetransverse passage 16 and also form a sealwhen an outlet 21 is inregistry with the transverse passage 16. The inlet 20 is connected to ahose (not shown) for supplying a gas under pressure, and the outlet 21is provided with a short out let tube 22 which discharges into theatmosphere.

FIG. 1 shows the parts in their normal position, in which the outlet 21is in alignment with the transverse passage 16, and the slide valveassembly is in engagement with the washer 14 which serves as a limitingstop.

In the operation of the device, whenever it is desired to connect thevalve to a threaded socket 2 of a gas cylinder, the end of the tubularstem 8 with its O-ring 9 is moved into engagement with the centralportion of the threaded socket. Then when axial force is applied to thevalve, the light spring 12 is compressed and the sections 1 move intoengagement with the flange on the end of the tubular stem 8.

Then as the operator, while gripping the collar 18, applies furtheraxial force, the collar 18 slides along the sleeve support 3, so thatthe flared end 23 of the collar 18 engages the bearing balls 6. As thecollar 18 slides along the sleeve support 3, the adjacent ends of thesections 1 are cammed inward, causing the threads 5 on the opposite endsof the sections 1 to move outward into engagement with the threads ofthe socket 2.

When the collar 18 reaches the end of its axial movement, the threads 5on the ends of the sections 1 are firmly engaged with the threadedsocket, and the inlet 20 which is supplied with gas under pressure is inalignment with the transverse passage 16 of the stem 13. Gas underpressure then flows through the inlet 20, the transverse passage 16 andthe axial passage 15 of the stem 13, and finally through the axialpassage 17 to the inlet of the gas cylinder.

It will be recalled that the first effect of inserting the device intothe threaded socket 2 was to force the tubular stem 8 inward slightly bycompressing the light spring 12. In consequence, the tubular stem 8remains in its inward-displaced position after engagement of the threads5 with the threads of the socket 2. The internal pressure in the axialpassages and 17 then causes the tubular stem 8 to operate as a piston,causing the tubular stem 8 to be forced strongly toward the left in FIG.1 so that the O-ring 9 effects a gas tight seal with the central portionof the threaded socket 2.

So long as the collar 18 remains in its extreme lefthand position, theinlet 20 connects the supply of gas under pressure to the inlet 10 ofthe gas cylinder, and the piston action of the tubular stem 8 maintainsa tight seal at the O-ring 9.

When it is desired to disconnect the device from the gas cylinder, thecollar 18 to which the valve assembly is threaded is pulled back to theposition shown in FIG. 1.'At the same time, the outlet 21 with itsexhaust tube 22 comes into registry with the transverse passage 16,relieving the pressure in the axial passages 15 and 17. This relievesthe tension which has been set up by internal pressure, and the partsimmediately return to the positions shown in FIG. 1, permitting thedevice to be removed instantly from the threaded socket2.

I claim:

1. A quick-connect valve for use in filling gas cylinders, comprising atubular stem adapted to engage the central portion of a threaded socketinlet in a gas cylinder, a longitudinally sectioned sleeve whichsurrounds the stem and has a threaded end that fits such threaded socketwhen expanded, a sleeve support which slidably surrounds the stem andhas a ferrule on which the sections of the sleeve are pivoted, aresilient annular member which surrounds the sectioned sleeve adjacentto the threaded end thereof, for pivoting the sections of the sleeve onthe ferrule to contract the threaded end of the sleeve around the stem,and a collar which is axially slidable on the sleeve support and has aflared end for engaging the sections of the sleeve to pivot them inopposition to the resilient annular member in order to expand thethreaded end of the sleeve into engagement with the threads of thesocket.

2. A quick-connect valve according to claim 1 comprising valve mechanismwhich is operated by axial movement of the collar and has an inlet forconnection to a supply of gas under pressure, in order to supply gas tothe tubular stem when the collar is moved into engagement with thesections of the sleeve to expand the end of the sleeve into engagementwith the threads of the socket.

3. A quick-connect valve according to claim 2 wherein the tubular stemis mounted on a piston in the sleeve support which is operated bypressure of the supplied gas to force the stem into sealing engagementwith the central portion of the threaded socket.

4. A quick-connect valve according to claim 3 wherein the valvemechanism is a three-way valve mechanism which connects the tubular stemto a relief port when the collar is moved out of engagement with thesections of the sleeve.

1. A quick-connect valve for use in filling gas cylinders, comprising atubular stem adapted to engage the central portion of a threaded socketinlet in a gas cylinder, a longitudinally sectioned sleeve whichsurrounds the stem and has a threaded end that fits such threaded socketwhen expanded, a sleeve support which slidably surrounds the stem andhas a ferrule on which the sections of the sleeve are pivoted, aresilient annular member which surrounds the sectioned sleeve adjacentto the threaded end thereof, for pivoting the sections of the sleeve onthe ferrule to contract the threaded end of the sleeve around the stem,and a collar which is axially slidable on the sleeve support and has aflared end for engaging the sections of the sleeve to pivot them inopposition to the resilient annular member in order to expand thethreaded end of the sleeve into engagement with the threads of thesocket.
 2. A quick-connect valve according to claim 1 comprising valvemechanism which is operated by axial movement of the collar and has aninlet for connection to a supply of gas under pressure, in order tosupply gas to the tubular stem when the collar is moved into engagementwith the sections of the sleeve to expand the end of the sleeve intoengagement with the threads of the socket.
 3. A quick-connect valveaccording to claim 2 wherein the tubular stem is mounted on a piston inthe sleeve support which is operated by pressure of the supplied gas toforce the stem into sealing engagement with the central portion of thethreaded socket.
 4. A quick-connect valve according to claim 3 whereinthe valve mechanism is a three-way valve mechanism which connects thetubular stem to a relief port when the collar is moved out of engagementwith the sections of the sleeve.